Cape Town, South Africa: Child Life Practicum

Dear friends and family,

I hope this message finds you in good health and spirits. I'm excited to share with you a remarkable opportunity that I'm truly passionate about. As many of you are aware, I'm currently in my final year at Texas State University, working toward my Bachelor's degree in Human Development and Family Sciences. My ultimate dream is to attain my Child Life Certification in the coming years. To achieve this, I need to follow a specific path, which includes completing a practicum (pre-internship), an internship (consisting of 600 clinical hours), and successfully passing the Child Life Certification Exam within the first year of working in a hospital as a Child Life Specialist.

Now, I'm thrilled to announce that I have the extraordinary chance to kickstart this journey by participating in a Child Life practicum program in South Africa this summer!

First and foremost, I want to share a little about the Child Life profession, and why it's important to me. Child Life plays a pivotal role within the healthcare system and is considered an essential helping profession. Child Life Specialists are trained healthcare professionals, who are experts in assisting children and their families in dealing with the emotional and psychological challenges that often accompany illness, injury, or hospitalization. Their core responsibility is to offer guidance, education, and interventions aimed at nurturing the emotional well-being and development of pediatric patients. Child Life Specialists employ evidence-based, developmentally appropriate strategies. These include therapeutic play, medical preparation, and education, all designed to alleviate fear, anxiety, and pain. As someone who has been a patient in a children's hospital, I know how much of a positive impact child life specialists have on patients and families.

Why South Africa? This program is my gateway to acquiring a one-of-a-kind experience in the realms of Child Life and therapeutic play. It's a chance for me to explore uncharted territories and gain insights that are truly unique. What sets South Africa apart is its rich and diverse cultural tapestry. I firmly believe that immersing myself in this environment will provide me with a fresh and invaluable cultural perspective. This, in turn, will enrich my ability to serve children and families back in the States, applying the knowledge I'll gain to make a significant impact on their lives. I feel I can make a genuine and meaningful contribution while also developing a deeper understanding and appreciation for a culture that is different from my own. It's an adventure that promises growth and a broadening of my horizons, both personally and professionally.

During the four weeks, I will be rotating between a few different hospitals in the pediatric wards. I will gain experience in wings such as hematology, oncology, orthopedics, inpatient, rehab, surgery, and an HIV clinic. I will be able to increase my knowledge of basic child life skills related to play, developmental assessment, and integration of child life theory within various different kinds of pediatric care.

With all that said, I really do need your help to make this happen. The cost of this practicum program is pretty hefty as it includes program training fees, flight and travel expenses, housing, food, and materials. This all amounts to around $7500. To help cover these expenses, I've started a GoFundMe campaign, and I'm humbly asking for your support. Every donation, no matter how small, will bring me one step closer to reaching my goal.

Ways You Can Help:

Donate: Please consider contributing to my GoFundMe campaign. Any amount, from $5 to $50, can make a big difference.

Share: If you're unable to donate, sharing this campaign with your friends and family can have an enormous impact as well.

Encourage: As someone who has done little traveling outside the country, this is a big step for me, and is a little scary! But this is something I truly believe I should do. Your words of encouragement and support mean the world to me.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and helping me on my Child life journey. Your generosity, whether financial or emotional, means more than I can put into words.

With much love and appreciation,

Kaylee